Do You Wanna Dance

"His act fills his fantasy."
-as heard in the 1986 film
"MANHUNTER", based on the RED DRAGON book by Thomas Harris




Do You Wanna Dance
by The Ramones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KfHpm4s4w

Do you wanna dance and hold my hand? Tell me baby I'm your lover man Oh baby, do you wanna dance?
Well do you wanna dance under the moonlight? Squeeze and kiss me all through the night
Oh baby, do you wanna dance?
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance Do you do you do you do you wanna dance?
Do you do you do you do you, do you wanna dance
Well do you wanna dance under the moonlight? Squeeze me baby all through the night
Oh baby, do you wanna dance?
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance Do you do you do you do you wanna dance?
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance Do you do you do you do you wanna dance?
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance Do you do you do you do you wanna dance?
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance Do you do you do you do you wanna dance?
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance?

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 16, 1985
Friday

I arrived to work and found myself talking to Dale Orlando.
“I went to Baxter’s in Concord alone last night.”
“You should have called me.”
“I know…but I just felt like checking out the scene myself,” I said.
I didn’t bother telling him that I couldn’t picture his presence there—for some reason.

Our Business Office Ice-Cream Day was today. It wasn’t super successful. We did make a profit that went over our cost breakpoint at least.

I received my airline departure times for September 2nd. I am flying on AIR FRANCE. I’m excited!

Dale asked me to join him and Sue Leigh for dinner. I didn’t accept. I was too excited about seeing Karen Melton again tonight.

I was home in a flash, doing my ‘Muscle Motion’ workout. For the last two weeks I went to the gym only twice (each week). It’s okay because my ‘Muscle Motion’ workouts are compensating. I don’t feel so bad for neglecting the gym visits.

By 8:30PM I was on my way to Baxter’s in Concord once again. I stood around the upper level, pondering over the singles bar. I kept a close eye on Karen Melton. Some short fellow bought Karen a flower. He happened to be right behind me.
Karen sneaked up behind me as she was working and made a comment about the short fellow.
“He’s married,” Karen said.
I smiled.
I thought it a good sign because she felt a need to give me that explanation. Ha-ha.

Some other guy named Bob came over and asked me about all of the hot spots in the area. Did I look like an authority or something? I told him what I knew. It seems Bob and his pals (Chuck and Mike) had driven here from Rockford, Illinois. These three traveling guys were staying in Walnut Creek at the home of Chuck’s cousin. I was talking to all of them when suddenly a gal who sort of resembled a mixture between actress Kate Jackson and ex-Nicole Drake (another actress on The Edge of Night) came right up to me.
The gal asked, “Hi, Do you wanna dance?”
I obliged her on the bold move. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KfHpm4s4w

As it turns out, the gal is a cop in Benicia, CA. She’s a police woman…just like Kate Jackson (sort of). We had a good talk but she was beyond me. She was a party-type gal and way over my range which made me put her in the category of ‘N.M.T.’ (Not My Type). I still kept my eye on Karen. I was certain that I saw her look at me while I was dancing. It was a good feeling because I felt she wanted to make sure that I was still around.

I told the Chicago fellows that I was looking for a roommate. They all got hyped-up over the idea. They want to move in.

The gal who is the cop (Denise) tired to warn me about the chit chat with these Chicago guys.
Denise said, “Don’t make a hasty decision.”
Chuck suddenly tried to get Karen to put a ‘next round’ of drinks on my tab! Karen knew better. Touché!  What a jerk that Chuck from Chicago guy is!

I made sketchy, tentative arrangements to go to Santa Cruz tomorrow with these Illinois guys. I was ‘white russianed’ out. What else can I say?

Denise had a friend named Caroline. She was a kind of a fat New-Waver type. I actually recognized her from when I was at Baxter’s last Thursday night. She was talking to me, too.
Caroline said, “You remind me of Alfie Rivas.”
“Who is Alfie Rivas?”
“He lives in L.A. and he’s an ex-teen idol. He’s a bit thinner than you but you two are almost identical.”
“Oh brother,” I said with a smile.

Denise and Caroline tried to invite me to an After-Hours Party at Denise’s house.
Caroline said, “It has to be at Denise’s house because she has a Jacuzzi.”
The Chicago guys were invited, too. That was my move (Ha-ha). I was just having fun and wanted to see the girls’ reaction to my inviting them along.

I ended up not going to the After-Hours Party. I was bothered a bit by Amy. Amy is the other N.M.T. that I met the previous night. She was there on this very night as well and I avoided her. I was wasted a bit—but not too wasted to see Karen (and talk to her).

At 1:30AM when the powers that be turned up the lights I went to Karen.
“I just want you to know that I’m going to write to you in Korea. Then we’ll get together when you return in two months, ok?”
“Okay,” Karen said as she hugged me and we kissed (a simple, mutual nice peck of a kiss). I want her A LOT. It’s funny how on Thursday I was bummed out from the breaking-up with Rachelle. And now, I have Karen to dwell on.
Karen continued, “Are you in a hurry to leave?”
“I think so,” I said stupidly. I should have gotten the hint and stayed for her but I wanted to leave in order to ditch Amy, the Chicago fellows and Denise and Caroline.

I drove straight home. Before falling asleep I wrote Karen a quick postcard, JO’d to dreamland.


"The one charm of the past is that it is the past. But woman never know when the curtain has fallen. They always want a sixth act, and as soon as the interest of the play is entirely over they propose to continue it."
-Oscar Wilde
"The Picture of Dorian Gray"